Joint for levels and squares



Dec. l2, 1939. D. E. sEMoN y JOINT FOR LEVELS AND SQUARES Filed Aug. ll, 1937 DAV/D ESE/WON APatented Dec. 12, 193

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combination folding brickmasons tool and has for its primary object, to provide a tool of this character which will combine a spirit level,

try square, and straightedge and the various measurement rules as used by brickmasons.

'I'he spirit levels as used by brickmasons at the present time are generally of one piece of material and four-feet long and due to the length, it

is impossible for the brickmason to carry the level in a bag containing his tools. I am aware, that attempts have been made to provide a sectional folding-spirit level, and so far as I am aware the yattempts have failed, for the reason that the -sections comprising the level have to be completely disconnected to be knocked down.

It is an object of my invention to provide a brickmasons tool comprising sections which may be folded without dismembering or disconnecting 20, the sections that make up the level.

A further object of my invention is the provisionfof hinge pins and novel means for mounting and holding the hinge pins in position for swivel movement.

25..., A further object of my invention is the p-rovision of novel swivel hinge pins so mounted in the section, that one section may be swung at right angles to the adjacent section or sections, the sections being provided with means on the 30front and back faces and on the ends for insuring proper alignment kand locking engagement when connected together.

A further object of my invention is the provision of horizontal and vertical bubble glasses in 3-5vthe sections, providing leveling means either as a spirit level or try square.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of the various measurement rules generally used by brickmasons, the measurement 40 yscales being provided on the front and back faces of the sections.

With the foregoing and other objectsin View, the invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more spe- 45 Ycically claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved folding spirit level and try square with the vsections in assembled position.v

504 Figure 2' is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating sections formed into a try square.

Figure 3l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating in detail the hinge pin and means for holding the hinge pin for swivel movement.

I. Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modied form of my invention and illustrating in detail the hinge pins, the means for holding the hinge pins in position for swivel movement, the means for proper alignment of the sections when in assembled position, and the means for bring- 5 ing the sections together! and securely locking them. p

Figure 5 is a top plan view o f a modified form of my invention illustrated in Figure 4 and illustrating one of the sections swung at right l0 angles to the other in open position, and the meansfor locking the sections together to `form a try square.

Figure 6 isla fragmentary side elevational view of another modified form ofl my invention.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the modified form of my invention as illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of my invention in a partially folded position and illustrating how sections may be folded without being detached from each other.

Figure l0 is a sectional view of the locking nut 25 and illustrating the arrangement of bores therein.

My improved brickmasons levelas illustrated in Figure l of the drawing is designated by the numeral II and it comprises a plurality of sections designated by the letters A, B and C and it is to be noted that on the front face at the bottom of eachvsection I provide numerical indicia i2, I3 and I4, representing inches. At this point I would have it understood that the measurement rule indicia may be placed on the back face also of the sections. On the sections A, B and C, the indicia as indicated, I2 from 0 to 16; I 3 from 1'7 to 32; and Irl from 33 to 48, the sections in assembled rposition as in Figure l, makinga level four feet in length, which is the length generally used by brickrnasons,however I do not wish to limit my invention to any determined length for the reason that due to the novel arrangement of parts, the device may be made up of any desired numberV of sections greater than illustrated. For the purpose of illustration on the front face of section A, at the top edge I have shown a number of lines designated by the numeral I5, and

these lines represent the well known brickmasons measuring rule Well known in the art, and each section is to be provided lwith the indicia of the brickmasons rule.

Thesections may be made of any suitable materiaLvsuch as Wood or metal. The openings and 'v l arms of the sections as indicated in the drawing, Figures l to 5, I deem it proper that the openings and arms, for proper description, be described individually.

One end of section A is provided with an elongated opening i and due to this opening arms V! and i8 are formed. Section B at both of its ends is provided with elongated openings i9 and 2S, and due to these openings arms 2i and 22 on the left hand end are formed, and arms 23 and 24 are formed on the right hand end; and section C is provided with an elongated opening 25 having arms 2G and 21.

Arms il and 8 of section A are each provided with an aperture 28 and it is to be noted that a portion of each aperture has an enlarged portion 29 that forms a recess 30 for a purpose to be later described. On the front and rear faces of the arms 'i' and E8 are sockets 3l, and on the end faces sockets 32. The abutting end faces of the arms 2! and 22 of section B are provided with pins 33 that are adapted for engagement with the sockets 3l and 32 in the arms Il and 8 of section A. The arms 2i and 22 are each provided with an aperture 3d each aperture having an enlarged portion 35 that forms a recess 36.

Arms 23 and 2G on the right hand end of section B, en the front and rear faces are provided with sockets 3'1', and on the end faces with sockets 32. Each of the arns 23 and 241i are provided with an aperture 3S, each aperture having enlarged portion that forms a recess M. The abutting end faces of arms 26 and 21 of section C are provided with pins i2 that are adapted to engage the sockets 3'! and 38 of section B, The arms 22 and 2'? are each provided with an aperture each aperture having an enlarged portion ed that forms a recess 45.

Due to the positioning of the sockets and pins in and on the arms of the respective sections, I provide a means whereby section C may be xedly secured to section B, either in horizontal alignment or at right angles thereto, as illustratcd in Figure 2.

Within the openings i6, i9, 20 and 25 are mounted hinge pins which I designate by the numeral [i8 as illustrated in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 3, the hinge pins it are provided with bores 4'! and i8 and a horizontal bore 159 for a purpose to be later described. The hinge pins /i are held in position for swivel movement between the respective arms of the sections by pintles 5G that are mounted in the apertures 28 35 35i and i3 of the respective arms and these pintles engage the bores 'i and 43 in the hinge pins. The pintles 5i) are held against casual displacement in the respective arms by a ring spring 5l that is seated in the enlarged recessed portions 3G, 3G, i and Interposed between the hinge pins d6 as illustrated in the various views of the drawing, is a lock nut 52 having a head 53 and a shaft 54, the shaft being provided at its opposite ends with right and left hand screw threads 55 that engage the horizontal bore [i9 in the hinge pins 45. The head 53 is provided with bores 56 as illustrated in detail in Figure of the drawing for the reception of any suitable means for turning the lock-nut 52, to loci; the sections as illustrated in Figure i. rigidly together.

In Figures li and 5 of the drawing, I have illustrated a modied form of my invention, in which the section A is provided with an elongated opening 5? forming arms 58 and 59, each of the arms having an aperture 50, and sockets 5l on the front and rear faces, and sockets 82 on the end faces. Section B is provided with an elongated opening 33 forming arms G4 and 65, each arm being provided with an aperture 66 and pins G1 on the end faces adapted for engagement with the sockets 5i and 62. Within the openings 57 and 63, and between the respective arms of the sections A and B are mounted hinge pins BS having threaded bores G9 and T! and a horizontally threaded bore Il. The hinge pins 68 are held in position between the arms for swivel movement by screws 'i2 having an enlarged head i3 that engages the apertures G and 6G in each of the arms of the sections, the threaded shank 'iii of the screws i2 engage the threaded bores 69 and in the hinge pins $2. The lock nut 52 is interposed between the hinge pins of sections A' and B and as the lock-nut has been previously described, description at this point is deemed not necessary.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8, I have illustrated another modiiied form of my invention in which section A has a cut out portion '55 and section B" a cut out portion EG and at this point I would have it understood that section B has its opposite end cut out although I have not shown same. The sections. A" and are provided around their edges with protective strip means Tl and t3 that may be oi any suitable material such as copper, aluminum or he like, the strip means 'E'i and i3 being secured to the sections A and B by screws '59. Ihe strip means "el and i8 at their ends each have eniarged portions 62 and Si. The inner faces 3?. and 83 of the strip means 'i'i abut against the end faces 84 and 85 of section A. Likewise, the end faces 86 and il? of the strip means i5 abut against the end faces 88 and 3E of section B. The enlarged end portions 5d and of the strip means are each provided with bores 3 and 9| for a purpose to be later described. The front, back and end faces of the end portions of strip 11 are each provided with a wedge shaped groove 92 and it is to be noted the groove is cut approximately one-half the inckness of the enlarged portion SE. The end races 3i' of the strip means 'i8 of section B are provided with a wedge shaped rib El?. adapted to engage the wedge shaped grooves 32. Within the bores and 9| are mounted for swivel movement hinge pins Sli that are provided with a horizontal bore 95. Interposed between the hinge pins 943 is a lock nut 52 which has been previously described.

In the operation of my device, assuming the device is folded as in Figure 9, it is only necessary i to straighten the sections out in a horizontal plane, this being very readily done, due to the fact that each section has mounted therein for swivel movement the hinge pins i5 that are connected together by a loek-nutvhavingathreaded shaft 54 with right and left hand ireads, the pintles 5U acting as bearings for the swivel movement of the hinge pins. When the sections are in alignment, and ready to be securely locked as in Figure l, the head 53 oi the lock nut is rotated and the provision oi' right ieit hand threads on the shaft 55 draws the sections together and during the locking engagement the pins 33 on section E engage the sockets on section A and pins [i2 on section C engage the sockets 38 on section B, thus making a perfect alignment of the sections and preventing the sections from coming out of alignment when the sections are in locked engagement.v 'Io insure riffid locking engagement of the sections, a nail or some other instrument may be inserted in the bores 56 of the head and pressure exerted. If it is desired to form the device into a try square, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 it is merely necessary to swing section B at right angles to section A, or section C at right angles to section B, then tighten up on the lock-nut until the sections are brought together, the pins 52 Will engage the sockets 3l.

In the operation of the modified form of the 10 invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the swivel movement of the hinge pins is the same as in Figure l, except that the head T of the pintal i2 serves as the bearing for the hinge pins.

In the operation of the modified form of the 15 invention illustrated in Figures 6, '7 and 8, the

ends of the hinge pins S4 are seated in the bores 99 and Si and swivel in the bores.

While the principles of the invention Will al- Ways be adhered to, the invention is susceptible to certain changes and modications, and I do not Wish to limit myself to the exactl structures, and changes may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

In a level comprising separable sections adapted to be disposed in alignment or angular relation to each other7 means for hingedly connecting said sections together comprising pins pivotally mounted in recesses in the ends of the abutting sections, a right and left hand threaded member engaging threaded apertures in said pivoted pins and complementary interengaging locking means carried by the ends and sides of said sections, said threaded member providing means for drawing the interlocking means into engagement when the sections have been arranged in selected position.

DAVID E. SEMON. 

